The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-01

cries retaliatory bilD have prepared the fol-
lowing statement, which they will submit to
10 the House at the earliest opportunity
probably late tonight:
"The unanimity expressed In the Senate
and House of Representatives had given the
managers on the part of the House every
reason to hope that by mutual concession an
agreement would be reached in conference
which would result in giving such ample au-
thority to the President as might be neces-
sary for a satisfactory settlement OF the
pending question of American fisheries on
the Canadian coast. Ii is, therefore, with
the deepest regret and disappointment that
we are compelled to report disagreement.
The managers on the part OF the House
entered the conference with determination
no minor differences should stand in the way
remove all question on the part of the Senate
confereeS as to a violation of the Treaty OF
1871, to insert In line 21 of the amended bill
after the word Newfoundland" as follows:
Except Such goods, wares and merchandise
as are entitled to enter the United States un-
der article 20 OF the treaty concluded be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
on the Sth Of May, 1871, and may also forbid
the entrance Of any locomotive, car or other
vehicle, with any goods that may be con-
tanned therein, except such as are wholly
loaded with and exclusively engaged in the
transportation Of government wares and
merchandise entitled to GENE into the United
States under said article 20.
AhC dHiCuuulCub was uOb dCCCptCuf anu ~
became evident that no proposition that in
cluded cars and rolling stock in operation Of
law would be acceptable to the Senate con-
fereeS. The unanimous vote OF the House,
authorizing the President to declare in his
discretion non-intercourse with Canada by
land, as well as by sea, did not, In the opin-
lon OF your conferees, leave them at liberty
to disregard that important principle con-
tanned in the House substitute for the Senate
bill. They, therefore, declined to recede In
ha 20 xafa INV "a
House on this point. The dignifed, deliber--
ate, and earnest maintenance Of our national
rights under treaty stipulations, under pub
lie commercial laws and ordinary interna-
tiOnal comfy, is the sole object Of the Unit
ed States. III these rights have been i'm
paired and invaded, and redress, when prop
Q ly asked for has been refused or not accorded
then self respect as the nation, and sense Of
duty to our citizens should compel the people
Of the United State to act as unit in adopt
ing such measures as win restore the rights
OF their citizens. III suspension OF com
mercial intercourse be asserted as remedy
for the Withholding Of Ofcommercial privileges,
such suspension should be cO-extensive with
the attainment Of the desired end. and would
be useless or worse, If it fell short Of
that. To limit such non-intercOurse TO q
single article OF commerce, or to
single mode of communication would not
be Just in theory nor adequate in practice
The act of exclusion to be successful should
be effective, and unmistakable in its extent
and results. Opinions which have found ex-
preston in Congress, and which have been
reflected in conference. would limit the
action of the government TO prohibition of
the importation of Canadian fish into the
United States. The House c0nferees are Of
the opinion that if such prohibitory law
should be deemed sufficient for the settle
ment Of such important political questions
as to American rights under treaty stipula-
tions, the proper method would be to pass a
tariff law to that effect. An attempt to
reach the result by the use Of diplomacy is
one to which the House conferees
to be legislated on is national in
its aspects, and not sectional or local
1t is not the article "fsh" we are to consider
but the rights Of our citizens, under the
treaties with Great Britain. The rights of
our fishermen are national rights, and the
whole nation is concerned in resisting their
destruction or dimlnutation. 1t is not the
profit or loss of the fishery business that is
in question, but the right to fish, to navigate
and trade that is at stake The establish
ment of non-intercourse by railroad might
possibly. infict hardship ON some oi our cit
iZens, but we are unwilling to believe that
private interests will be placed above the
maintenance of the honor and dignity of !
the government Of the United States
and the government of Great Britain. Ii
will continue to be recurring source Of ir-
AAtdttO1, dnlO9 duCCs anu Cfcu udusCl oO iOu6
as it is permitted to remain In con-
dition Of dispute between our fishermen and
Canadian authorities. The attention Of the
administration has been directed to accom-
m0date all differences and to procure an
amicable, voluntary, rand just settlement
To such overtures no reply has been made,
although since December 3, 1886, PROPOSE
tion looking to such an adjustment hasbeen
in the hands of the British government. III
Great Britain will join in just and reason
able Interpretation of the treaty Of 1918 with
the United States there will be no difficulty:
but should that government continue to sus-
tain its provinces in a misuse of the pro-
visions of that treaty we must prevent or
submit Non-intercourse applied to the es-
sential lines Of British railway traffic
would be more effective than confn-
ing our action to the exclusion of fish
alone. Great Britain must be dealt
with, not Canada, and our measures should be
guided with that view, and with a determin-
alton to continue them till just settlement
is compelled.
The report is signed by Messrs. Belmont
and Lamont but not by Mr. Rice of Massa-
chusetts. 1t is believed no request will be
made by the House for further conference,
and any overture in that direction must come
from ba